Many CDs, no CD player (a question about ripping CDs)

Ripped CDs in WAV sound better than streaming and FLAC. If you have a highly resolving system you will hear it in the texture and timbre. Also streaming brings in a whole other mess of issues such as internet noise etc.

Ripped CDs onto an internal SSD or USB plugged into a streamer/renderer will give the best results except for actual CD spinning but that difference IMHO is just a fraction of difference, the difference between ripped CDs and streaming is much bigger. Most people won’t have a problem with ripped CDs because the convenience is immense.

Of course if you don’t have an extensive CD collection there’s downloads which are expensive or you have to use streaming.

Bit perfect rip of CD to NAIM Unitiserve beat any one of ten CD olayers….of course, that was 8 years ago……maybe somebody ( besides memory player ) has invented something better…..

I am a CD ripping robot

Outstanding. Thanks to all of you. This is *exactly* what I was asking about. Much appreciated. 

MANY CDs.

in addition to whatever you do, I think you should get yourself a CD changer. You don't need to spend a lot just to have an enjoyable unit. 

I researched, asked advice, tried this and that, finally found one I really like the sound of

Onkyo, Integra CDC-3.4.

https://integraworldwide.com/Products/cd/cdc-3.4/

Now going for a changer that also plays SACD’s. This Yamaha has 4 DACs, I just bought one, will keep the favorite in main system, use the other in my office.

Another variable to consider is that many releases have multiple versions. I have read many questioning which version of an album they are streaming. If you've got German Target, MFSL, Steve Hoffman-mastered, etc. CDs, ripped files from those are likely to sound better than the streamed random version. If you compare SACDs vs streamed hi-rez, the stream provenance gets even cloudier. Cheers,

Spencer